ZHOU Yang has been engaged in artistic creation for more than 30 years. He is currently a Senior Arts and Crafts Master, a Master of Arts and Crafts of Zhejiang Province, and an inheritor of Shaoxing’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in root carving. He also serves as Director of the Mihe Craftsmanship Museum in Shengzhou City. He has been awarded the honorary title of “National Rural Youth Arts and Crafts Master” by the Communist Youth League of China and is an appointed national-level woodcarving art researcher at the China Wood Carving Museum.

ZHOU Yang has participated in overseas cultural exchange visits organized by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, conducting live carving demonstrations in countries such as Egypt and France, as well as in Hong Kong and Taiwan, China. He has also represented China in woodcarving technique exchange activities held by the International Wood Culture Society in Turkey, Nepal, and the United States. His creative focus is the Chinese Maitreya (Budai Monk) theme. His distinctive “Smiling Maitreya Travels the World” series has been included in the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries’ “Telling China’s Story Well” initiative, making it the only selected case from Zhejiang Province.

From June 7 to June 11, 2025, ZHOU Yang was invited to participate in the China–Iran Woodcarving Cultural Exchange organized by the International Wood Culture Society, during which he created the work The Oriental Smile on site.

Artwork Title: The Oriental Smile
Artwork Description:
Using the natural grain and color of the wood, the artist carved an image of Maitreya Buddha. Humanity needs smiles, tolerance, and confidence to face all aspects of life, as well as reverence for nature—values that embody the spirit of Maitreya. The image of Maitreya Buddha has been passed down in China for thousands of years, and its artistic expression continues to evolve, conveying the emotional and cultural spirit of the Chinese people.